Portable player for musical instruments.



No. 824,050. PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906.

E. s. VOTEY.

PORTABLE PLAYBRT'OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1903.

2 8HEBTSS HEET 1.

WITNESSES? 4 INVENTOR a. 56% azawtf y a ATTORNEYS;

:No. 824,050. Y PATENTED JUNETQ, 1906.

* B. s. VOTEY.

PORTABLE PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS EDWINS. VOTE). OF NEW YORIL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

PORTABLE PLAYER FOR PATENT oFFIoE.

N. Y.., ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1906.

ipplioatinn filed June 22, 1903. Serial No. 162,506.

To all whom, it 'ITMJ/l/ cancer-rt:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. VOTEY, a

- citizen of the United States, residing in the also shown broken awayborough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, (post-officeaddress, Aeolian Hall, No. 362 Fifth avenue, New York -city,) haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Players for Mu:sical Instruments, of which invention the fol lowing is a specification,accompanied by drawings, which illustrate a preferred form thereof.

. An object of the invention isithe provision of means to permit thearrangement of the mechanism for actuating the keys under the keyboardof a musical instrument in that class of mechanically-played musicalinstruments in which a tracker and music and takerolls are in playingposition located in front of the keyboard for convenience ofmanipulation. r

A further object is to mount the tracker and music andtake-up rolls onan attach ment' so that they may ing position either for clearing thekeyboard of any obstruction when the iano or organ. is to be played byhand or for s 'pment of the instrument.

- The invention-is described, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, as being applied to certain known and used forms of mechanism,and the improvements constituting the present invention'ar'eincorporated in the claims.-

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a sectionalfront elevation of a mechanical musical instrument the casing beingshown in section and a keyboard being at each end. Fig. 2 is atransverse section thereof viewedv from the right of Fig. 1. 'Fig. 3 isa detail sec- 4 tional view, on a larger scale, showing the mechanicalmusical frame for supporting the tracker and'music and-take-up rolls,shown, as well'as riving mechanism and a means for reversing the"direction of movement ofthe'mnsie-sheet. Fig. {1 is a section i Fig. 5is a section on the on line 4. 4 of Fig 3 A line5 5 of.Fig'. 13and'Fi'g. 6 is an enlarged dei tail of the pneumatic playing mechanism Y.Itisold and well knewnin inany'forrns of instruments to control primarypneumatic: by a tracker-board and be moved from playarts of these beingalso its connections, over which tracker-board a perforated music-sheettravels, and to cause primary pneumatics to operate secondarypneumatics,which in turn control the neumatically-operated mechanism foreflectuating the playing. It is also old and well knownto provide inconnection Withsuch a tracker-board a-music-roll and a take-up roll foroperating the .music-sheet either toun'- wind it from the music-rollslowly or to unwind it rapidly from the take-up'roll, the reversemovement being accomplished by a suitable reversing-lever.

In the drawings I have selected for illus: tration a well-known form ofinstrument, and it is not, therefore, necessary to describe in detailthe old and well-known parts thereof.

The essence of the present invention 0011- sists 1n mounting the trackerso as to move with the music-roll and the take-up rolls when they aremoved to a orto, position below the leaving the keyboard free theinstrument by hand.

eyboard, thereby ppsition for playing for the playing of In thepreferred wayof carrying dut the invention the usual type of tracker andmusic and take -up rolls is provided, with the exception that they aremovable from opera-.

tive ,position for automatic laying to nonoperative position to permit paying by hand.

The following-described construction is the preferred form of thepresent invention: A

ortable case a is rovided, which in use is coated under the I? quiresfor this reason that the tracker, music, and -take-up rolls be mountedso that they may be moved into position for automatic playing or intoposition within the case when the automatic portiqnfof the mechanism isnot to be used. The-case has ivoted thereame c which to at a asuitable'sup ortin supports a tracker whic h by means of flexibleconnections, such as tubes d is connected with the primary neumatics,such as e, which actuate valves e, that in turn control' secondary thevalves f, w ich are in turn arran ed to control thepneumatic motors fhese pneumatic devices are simply shown here b way of exam 1c ofpneumatic devices-whic may be use'd to actuate the keys I) or any otherart of the piano-action throu h any suitabiia'connection with the motors5. As

neumatics f for actuatingeyboard b, and-which re-- upon the ends oflevers 1).

The take-up roll it is driven by a shaft 'i, which carries a gear-wheeliand is journaled in the wall of a box or casing 7', located at one sideof the supporting-frame 0.. This gearwheel meshes with a pinion 7c,arranged on a shaft 7c, journaled intlie casing said shaft also-ca'rring a sprockethe e J. On the shaft is, etween the pinion 7c and a clutchmember 1, also on the shaft, is a smaller sprocket-wheel 712 said clutchbeing adapted by a feather-and-groove connection (not necessar to beshown) to couple the sprocketwhee k todri've the sprocket k As shown,the pinion 7c, sprocket-wheel k andclutch member Zare ,inadein the formof a sleeve 1 which slides on the 'shaft, i1 1 which case when with the,in my the side of thels wheel 7c t e pinion]; is disengaged gear-wheelthe pin 1 on clutch member-l is engaged rocketorn'the e powera or vicevverses Th transmitting shaft a is s rocket-chain m, (indicated by dottedlines a so trained over the sprocket-wheel k, be-

' fore referred'to. Also, mounted on the shaft a is a sprocket-wheel'o,-Fig. 1,driven from a suitable s rocket chain -0, trained. over sprocketeel a on motorsha'ft g for the pur ose of rotating the shaft a'.- Arevers- 'ingever it is rovided at n in the box or casing j. The ever nisprovided with a button M, which projects through "the box or casingj forthe manipulation of said lever it,

which, actingon the clutch member Z,- serves as a reversin -lever forthe purpose resently to a'p ear.

chain p, which isalso trained over a sprocketwheel 1), that is mountedon a shortshaft p V constructed at that end which projects out-- sidethe casing 7' to-. 'serve in well-known manner as a couplin to receivethe shaft of the music-roll h. r'T 's is a convenient point.-

to describe the operation of the mechanism for transmitting motion tothe rolls to cause the music sheet to travel over the tracker.

I Whn the mechanical musical instrument is in operation for automaticplaying, the reversing-lever n is in the position shown in full lines inFig. '3, -the'gar-wl reel 'i being;

then'drivenfromthe s rocket-chainzdrive m h m i in consequence c whichrotary motion rovided with a" sprocketheel .m, over w 'ch is trained a esprocket-wheel 7: efore re-' ferre to, has trained thereover a sprocketis imparted to the lower take-u roll it to wind the music-sheet thereonan to unwind it from the music-roll at a slow rate of speed. After thepiece of music has-been played the music-sheet is rewound-on the musicroll by v reversing the direction of rotation of the rolls this beingeffectuated by shifting the lever n so as to engage the clutch l and theclutch l at one side of the sprocket-wheelsk The sprocket-chain p willthen be driven toimart rotary motion directly to the music-roll om itsshaft, thereby rewinding the musicsheet onto said roll.

The sup orting-frame c for the music and take-up r0 1s and the trackermay be moved into the position shown in full'lines in Figs. 1

and 2, so as tobe located in positionfor manipulationin' front ofthekeyboard b, 'or in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,

in which position it is moved into a recess or receptacle 9 in front ofthe case a. This recess is of such size as toreceive the entiresupporting-frame and parts supported thereby and makes it possible tostore the frame and. supported parts in the case for transportation orfor obtaining'free access to the keyboard I) for manual playing.

A tempo-slide 1', provided with apointer to h set opposite a scale r,moves in a slot r in one wall of the box or casing j, it being mounted uonla bent-wire sliding piece 1' which is guided in the box or casingporting-frame which, when the same is moved up into'the position shownin Fig. 1, constitutes the back of the frame, with acranked finger s,which is, bymeans of a connecting rod 8, connected withthe valve 8 ofthe tempo mechanism. (Not necessary to be illustrated in detail.) g

The swinging su porting-frame for the I tracker, music, an .take-uprolls ma be fixed in positionlshown full lines in Fig. 2) for automaticplaying bya special catch; but

this is not necessary, as when the frame is raised to such position itpasses the center of gravity and rests against-a superposed portion-as,for instance, the keybed or (projecting artof that art of a piano unerlying the eyboard. 1

to the; tracker, are of suificientlength so that no breakingstrain willbe exerted thereon during the raising or lowering of the swinging suortin -frame. I

v e be lows t of the pneumatic playing mechanism are operated 1nwell-known man- The wire slid- 7 --in'g piece? is provided at that sideof the sup? rod e flexible tubes d, leading ner from treadles If, thesetreadles being piv oted," sothat they may be moved into the posltionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 when .out of use. The compartment vinwhich the 'treadles are arranged 1s closedv by means of a door-u,hingxed to a strip 11/, that is guided in suitable wa s at the sidesofthe compart merit, but which in Fig. 2is shown in raised.

position for obtaining. access to the treadles t. When the door uismoved up, as shown, it will be located in front of and will close therecess g, which receivesthe movable support 0.

Between the treadles t are located extension-pedals v of thepiano-pedals w. The extension-pedals c are formed as crank-arms ofrock-shafts '0, which are journaled in suitable bearings at the base ofthe apparatus case a. The rear ends of the rock-shafts v are providedwith hooks w, which engage over the ends of'the pedals 10, thatextendthrough the back of'the case a.

The operation of the entire apparatus when in the form of the inventionshown in the drawings is .as follows: The case a is moved under theprojecting keyboard 'or 'tion of the piano, so that the pivot a 'wi bearranged properly relatively to the keyboard. The sliding door a is thenraised and the treadles t pulled out so that their feet will rest uponthe floor to permit of the oscillation thereof and the operation of thebellows.

The movable support 0 is moved from the dotted-line position in itsrecess (1 either before the door is raised or afterward into full lineposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the said support, with the supportedpartsas the tracker, music, and 'take-11prollsbeing ar ranged in frontof the forward ends of the keys I) in convenient position for manipula:tion by the operator of the apparatus; The music-roll, if'not already inposition, is then placed in position above the tracker andthemusic-sheet passed across the tracker'f'and attached to the take-uproll. The apparatus is now in playing order, and it is only necessary tooperate the treadles to automatically perform the music which is cut inthe musicsheet. When it is desired to manually perform on the pianoororgan, the treadles tare moved into the case a, the door a moved down,and the movable support c swung down into the dotted-line position shownin Fig. 2. The performer now plays, as usual, upon the keys I) andobtains-the desired expression by the actuation of the extension-pedalsV. This is done without removing the case a, with its contained parts,from underneath the keyboard.

Having thus described my invention, and

without limiting myself to details, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the keyboard of a musical instrument, a caseseparate from the instrument and located under the keyboard, actuatingmechanism connected with that of the instrument, 'a tracker, operatingconnections leading from the tracker to said mechanism, fortherespective notes, and a swinging support on the case on which thetracker is mounted to permit its movement upwardly -as set'forth.

' fort in front of the keyboard or downwardly be- 6' 5 low the same,substantially as set forth.

.2. The combination of the keyboard of a musical instrument, a'caseseparate from the the instrument,.a tracker, operating connectionsleading from the tracker to said mechane ism, for the respective notes,a movable su port on said case, and music and take-up ro ls mounted onsaid support for moving a musicsheet. across the'tracker, said supportbeing adapted to benioved up in front of the keyactuating mechanismconnected with that of board, or down below the same, substantially 4.The combination of a -ke board of a musical instrument of a case be owthe keyboard providedwith a recess in front, actuating mechanism locatedin the case and connecte with that of the instrument, a tracker,

opera ng connections leading from the tracker to said mechanism, for therespective notes, and a movable support-,onsaid case on which thetracker is mounted, said support being movable upwardly in front of thekeyboar or downwardly into the said ual playing, respectively,substantially as recess, for permitting mechanical and mtg; 5

. 5. The combination ofa keyboard of a" I musical instrument of a casebelow the,key boar'd provided wit .a recess in'front,act uatingmechanism located in the case and con- IIO nected with that of theinstrument, atra cker,

operating connections leadin from the tracker to said mechanism, for t erespective notes, a take-up roll, and a movable sup ort on said case onwhich the take-up rol is wardly in front of t e keyboard or down intothe said recess, for permitting mechanical and manual pla 'ng,respectively, substan tia'lly as set fort '61 The combination ofakeyboard of a musicalinstrument, of a case below the key-' boardprovided with a recess in front, a'ctuat ing mechanism located in thecase and con-" nected with that of the instrument, a tracker,

operating connections leadin from the tracker to said mechanism, for t erespective notes, a music-roll, and a movablesupport 1r 5 mounted, saidsup ort being movable up- V on said case on which the music-roll ismounted, said support being moyable upwardlyin front of the keyboard ordown into the said recess, for permitting mechanical andmanual playing,respectively,.substantiallyas set zfort Z. In a portableplayer formusicalinstruments, the Combination of a case. detachable from. and aplicable to such an instrument io fpr'ovided wit afront recess and inwhich the operative parts of the player are 'contained and a support fora tracker, music-roll an takemp pivoted at the top of thecase andmovable into said recess, substantially as set s forth.

' 8. In a portable player for musical instruments, thecombination of. acase detachable from and. ap licable-toi. such an instrument providedwith afront' recess and in which the operatiye parts ofthe' layer arecontained, and a support for a ta e-'up roll pivoted at the top of thecase and movable into said re cess, substantially asset forthl 9. Thecombination with the keyboard and pedals of a manually-played musicalinstru- 10. A mec amcalplayer for keyboard mu-.

sical instruments is apted to be positioned beneath the keyboard of.such instrument I and integrally removable from such position,

having means for carrying and operating a controlling music-sheet, and asupport, on which said sheet-carrying means is movably mounted to occupyalternatively an operative position above such keyboard, or anonoperative position beneath such keyboard.

11'. A mechanical player for keyb oa rdmumeans carrying rotatable rollsfor said music-- portion.

' aaaos'o sicai instruments including a casing adapted to positionedbeneath the keyboard of such instrument and integrally removable, fromsuch position, p" er-supplying means for winding musicest in saidcasing,

sheet, and a support on which said roll-carrying means s-movably mountedto occupy alternat'ively an operative position above such I keyboard ora non-operative position beneath such keyboard. v 12 A mechanical playerforkeyboard musical instruments including a casing adapted to bepositioned beneath: the keyboard of such instrument and integrallyremovable from such position, a movable" front portion on said casing,power-supplying means for winding a music-sheet in said casing, meanscarrying rotatable rolls for such music-- sheets, and a support on"which saidfroll-carrying means is movably mounted'to occupyalternatively anoperative position above said 7o keyboard, or anon-operative position be-' neath said keyboard and behind'said front13. In combination with a musical instru ment having a keyboardextending forwardly of its lower frontportion and a'pluraiity of meansbeneath said'keyboard'for separately operating its sound produci' fi g"devicesja mechanical player adapted, to be positioned beneath saidkeyboard and." integrally removable from said position,- having meansfor cooperating with said firstnamed'means to sound said instrument,meansfor carrying and operating a controlling music sh'eet, and asupport on which said sheet-carrying means; is movably mounted to occupyalternatively anoperativepos ition above said keyboard, 7, or anon-operative position beneath said key board.

In testimony whereofl have signed thisspecification inthe presence oftwo subscribing witnesses: D

' EDWIN S. VOTEY.

Witnesses GEORGE E. KELLY, E. O. THoMPsoN.

